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No Sacred Text.
Hindu gods were Brahmanthe creator, Vishnu- the
preserver, and Shiva- the
destroyer.
People believed in
reincarnation.
Big law was Karma in which all
the actions of a persons life
that affect their fate.
Ahisma is the nonviolence
moral principle.
All Hindus’ goal in life is
Moksha, union with Brahman.
•Buddhism has four noble truths.
•1 is all life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow.
•2 is the cause of suffering is the desire for things that are really illusions.
•3 is the only cure for suffering is to overcome desire.
•4 is the way to overcome desire is to follow the 8 fold path.
• The final goal is Nirvana – the union from the universe and release from
the cycle of rebirth.
•The spread of Buddhism spread all over Asia and became a strong religion
that eventually split up into 2 major schools.
•1 school was Theravada- closely followed Buddha’s original teachings
•The other was Mahayana- made Buddhism easier for people to follow.
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The Maurya empire. (321 BC to 185BC)
It started in the Ganges Valley by Chandragupta.
Its capital was Pataliputra.
After the death of Asoka (Chandragupta’s grandson) India divided
again.
The Guptas ( Five hundred years after the Maurya empire)
Had a golden age from 320 AD – 550 AD.
Had mathematicians, physicians, and artisans.
Trading and farming flourished at this time.
Built stupas – large dome shaped buildings.
The Huns destroyed their cities and once again India is divided.
Caste System
• Rules forbade marrying out of their caste
• Caste systems governed every aspect of life like where people lived,
what they ate, how they dressed, and how they earned a living.
• An “Untouchable” is a member of the lower caste and their life was
rough and restricted.
• Untouchables were grave diggers, street cleaners, and turned animal
skins to leather.
• Others were scared of untouchables.
• They had to live apart from everyone and they wore a wooden
clapper so people would be warned when an untouchable is coming.
 Most Indians lived in small villages.
 A village headsman and council made decisions and dealt
with outside authorities, the council contained most
respected people of the village.
 Village homes were made of earth and stone.
 Beyond the homes were farms that grew wheat, rice,
cotton, and sugar cane.
 They depended on monsoons for farming purposes.
 A basic family was a joint family – parents, children, and
grandparents.
 In a patriarchal family the father was the head of the
household and consulted with his wife and others.
Children, Parents, and Women
 At an early age children learned family duties.
 A young girl learns that as a wife she has to serve and
obey her husband and family.
 Parents had to arrange good marriages for their children.
 In some parts of India, a bride’s family provided a gift to
the bridegroom and paid for the wedding.
 The wife lives with the husband’s family.
 Gupta upper caste women could move freely in society.
 Most women were restricted to their home and had to be
covered from head to toe when they went out.
 Lower caste women worked in fields spinning and
weaving.
Confucianism
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Confucianism was started by the great philosopher Confucius,
who was born in 551 BC.
He never wrote down his teachings but his students wrote them
down shortly after he died.
Taught that harmony resulted when people accepted their place
in society.
Stressed five key relationships: Father to Son, elder brother to
younger brother, husband to wife, ruler to subject, and friend to
friend.
Men were superior to women.
Older people were superior to younger people.
Mothers of sons should be respected.
Had filial piety, the most important was to respect your parents
above all others.
Confucianism never became a religion.
• Legalism was started by Hanfeizi who was another Chinese
philosopher.
• He died in 233 BC.
• “ The nature of man is evil. His good is acquired.”
• Greed was the motive of most actions and causes of most conflicts.
• Consisted of strict laws and harsh punishments.
• Due to its emphasis on law, Hanfeizi’s teachings were known as
Legalism.
• Never became a religion.
Daoism
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Was found by Laozi “ Old Master.”
He is credited to have written The Way of Virtus.
Differed from Confucianism and Legalism.
Evolved into a popular religion with gods, goddesses, and magical
practices.
• Daoist priests experimented with Alchemy – the transformation of
metal into gold.
• Are thought to have invented gunpowder, which they only used to
frighten away ghosts.